Electric motorcycles: Honda EV scooter in 2019

16 มิถุนายน 2560

Honda's electric motorcycles of the future slated to be sold in Thailand in 2019 with plans to produce all parts in Thailand also.

MOTORCYCLES

Electric motorcycles: Honda EV scooter in 2019

16/06/2017
Piyachart Maikaew

AP Honda, the local distributor of Honda motorcycles, plans to make electric motorcycles by 2019 in line with the official policy of Japan- based Honda.

The company already controls 80% of the domestic market for conventional motorbikes and hopes to replicate this success with the more eco-friendly two-wheel vehicles.

PLANS TO MAKE ALL THE MOTORCYCLE PARTS IN THAILAND

Vice-president Suchart Arunsaengroj said the Thai unit is doing a local feasibility study including the production of parts and battery waste management.

"AP Honda plans to make all related parts of the electric motorcycles in Thailand with our commitment to introduce the first model under the electric platform in 2019," he said.

"Making eco-friendly vehicles is now the business footprint for Honda because the global trend is heading [in this direction]."

STRUGGLING TO MAKE ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES AFFORDABLE FOR THAI MARKET

But Mr Suchat said the key stumbling blocks for Thailand in this field are hefty retail prices because the electric platform relies on a higher technology than conventional motorcycles.

The Honda EV-Cub is available in Taiwan for 120,000-130,000 baht.

This is too expensive for Thai buyers.

A conventionally powered Super Cub or Wave costs only a third of this price or 45,000 baht.

GOVT SUPPORT MIGHT ATTRACT INVESTMENT FROM BIG GLOBAL MOTORCYCLE PRODUCERS

Mr Suchart urged the Thai government to offer state subsidies to make electric motorcycles more affordable and attract investment in future production from global players.

"At this time, I cannot disclose whether the first Honda electric vehicle in Thailand will be imported or assembled locally, but the Samut Prakan plant has a capability to produce many bike types to serve both domestic and overseas [markets]," he said.

MOTORCYCLE SALES GREW 6.7% LAST YEAR

AP Honda sold 607,128 motorcycles in Thailand from January to May, up 6.7% from the same period last year, according to figures supplied by Mr Suchart.

Its sales closely track those of the broader domestic market where demand for motorcycles grew 6.6.% to stand at 773,794 units.

Mr Suchart said Honda expects total sales here to hover around 1.8 million in 2017.

Domestic sales of motorbikes surpassed 2 million for the first time in 2011, ending at 2.01 million. They peaked at 2.13 million units in 2012 before receding to 2 million in 2013.

The Wave and Spark are among Honda's most popular models in Thailand.

MOTORCYCLE SALES FELL 15% IN 2014 DUE TO END OF RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME

In 2014, the market plummeted 15% to 1.7 million amid political turmoil and payment delays to farmers under the rice-pledging scheme.

They continued to edge down to 1.68 million in 2015 but rebounded 4% to 1.74 million last year.